Sicily In May: The 15 Best Things To Do

Okay, all that sounds well and good but sometimes "it's quieter" and "it's nice" isn't enough. Here's why May is one of the best times to visit Sicily, just in case you're still on the fence.

• Weather: It’s just the right amount of warm in the day, and cool in the evening.  So, no sticky nights. And no hiding in the shade between 12 – 3pm. The daytime highs sit around 20 - 25°C, climbing towards the mid-20s by late May. It’s mostly sunny, with only the odd shower passing through. Evenings sit perfectly in that light jacket and jeans territory, between the 13 - 15°C mark.
• Crowds and prices: No one likes tourists. Not even tourists. And with May being just too early for the school holidays, you get the benefit of less tourists and more space to enjoy the sun and sights.
• Everything's open: Unlike some Mediterranean spots that feel half-asleep outside peak summer, Sicily runs year-round. Ferries to the smaller islands are back on full schedules from May, and every attraction worth visiting is up and running.
• The landscape: Fresh air, milder weather and a sprinkling of spring rain work wonders on Sicily’s landscape. The island is lush and green, filled with wildflowers, whilst Etna sits in the distances, with a sprinkling of snow sitting on top of it. That’s something that you’re just not going to see in August.  
• Festival season: Spring is a time for celebrating. And that’s why May is packed full of festivals. There’s the flower festivals in Noto, open-air plays in ancient Greek theatres, national holidays and so much more.  

Catch the Infiorata di Noto

Do you know what's better than a sandy, Sicilian, golden baroque town? A sandy, Sicilian, golden baroque town dripping in flowers.  

In the third weekend of every May, the Via Corrado Nicolaci  in Noto is covered in a colourful carpet of floral art assembled by international and local florists. The designs are sort of like flower murals, covering the floor, stretching roughly 120 metres long.

The best bit about the Ifiorata di Noto is that it's completely free and forms part of Noto's wider Primavera Barocca festival. All you need to do is turn up, and enjoy the views. The only thing to note is that it does get busy, so if you want the best views then be prepared to get their early and give yourself plenty of time to enjoy it.

Explore Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna

If the idea of walking further than the local shops to pick up a packet of lays on your holiday sounds like your idea of a nightmare, then spending a day exploring Mount Etna probably isn't for you.

But if that's not you, then you're in for a treat. Because Mount Etna, has some of the most breathtaking views and scenery on the island.

Getting up there isn't as hard as it sounds. There's plenty of options and it's not like you'll be scaling it, pickaxe in hand. On the southern slopes you have the cable car, that you can take from Rifugio Sapienza. Or there's the option of 4 x 4 jeep tours. And if you really want to, there's plenty of guided walks around the lower slopes, with several trails marked suitable for children.

There's also the option of stopping off at Etna DOC on the way home, to treat yourself to a well-earned wine from grapes grown on the slopes of the mountain. The perfect treat after a hard days exploring.

Splash through the Alcantara Gorges

The Alcantara Gorges are an adventure that the whole family can enjoy. About 20 minutes from Taormina and 50 minutes from Catania, it's a canyon that's been carved by ancient lava flows with columns of basalt rock rising from the water.

You access the gorge through an elevator in the Botanical and Geological Park entrance. It takes you down to the riverbed where there are paths around it, with paddling spots that the whole family can enjoy. 

For older kids, there's the opportunity to explore it further with activities like canyoning, body rafting or river trekking. The only thing worth flagging is that the water is from the snow melt on Etna, so it's cold. Like seriously cold. But that's what a wet suit is for, isn't it.

Walk among the Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento is like a little gift that the Greek's left behind for the Sicilians to enjoy. It's this perfectly preserved temple complex covering over 2kms just outside Agrigento.

It's also one of the most popular things to see in Sicily.

And that's why May is the perfect time to visit it. With less tourists, you feel like you have the run of the place, and get to explore the toppled stones and dramatic ruins at a more leisurely pace, and without having to duck and dive between selfie-sticks.

If you're going with kids then it's worth getting your tickets in advance, to avoid any queues. Even though May is a lot quieter it can still get busy on weekends and no one wants to deal with having to entertain a little one in a queue.

Top Tip: If you're looking for somewhere to stay then Neilson X Mangia Torre del Barone is only an hour away from the temple. You can spend the morning exploring Greek ruins and the afternoon on the water.

Watch a play in an ancient Greek amphitheatre in Syracuse

A bit of culture never goes amiss on holiday. And there's no better setting for some culture than a Greek amphitheatre. Throughout the summer, there are classic Greek plays hosted in the Greek Theatre of Syracuse just inside the Neapolis Archaelogical park.

Performances are in Italian, so you may need to bring a translator with you to follow along, but if you're into enjoying theatre in a dramatic setting, then you'll be hard pressed to find somewhere better.

It's also a nice bookend to spending a day exploring Ortigia (Syracuse's old town). Picture it, suns going down, the cool breeze is kissing your neck after a hard days sightseeing and you're sitting in an amphitheatre, watching an Italian actor give it all the beans. Can't beat it.

Explore the beaches without the crowds

Sicily has some of the best beaches in the world. They've crescent beaches wrapped around tiny Islands, beaches that site beneath gorgeous white cliffs, and beaches that stretch for miles.  

The best part about the beaches in May, is that they feel almost empty -  at least compared to August.

Some of our favourites to explore are Isola Bella at Taormin which is a beautiful beach with a tiny island that you can reach via a land bridge in low tide. Or the Scala dei Turchi which is near Agrigento and has a famous white marl cliff staircase within it.  

Get out on the Water

The water in Sicily isn't something to be admired from a distance, it's there to be enjoyed. To be explored. To splash around in. To relax in.

And honestly, you couldn't have picked a better island to do that. There's dramatic under water volcanic rock formations to be snorkelled, there's sea caves waiting to be explored, there's tranquil bays. There's whatever you want to do on the water.  

If that sounds like a bit of you, and you're sitting there going "Yep. All of that please!", then it's worth considering a stay at Neilson X Torre del Barone Resort. All your water sports are included in the price, with instructors, as well as other activities like tennis and cycling included. It has a little bit of everything for you.

Explore the Olive Groves and Vineyards on bike

May is the perfect time to go cycling in Sicily. Temperatures in the twenties, quiet rural roads, green landscapes and wildflowers everywhere you look - it's the best riding conditions the island offers all year.

Sicily is also one of the most underrated cycling destinations in Europe. It literally has everything from nice beginner friendly coastal routes, gravel and inland mountain bike trails to explore. There's also the added bonus of enjoying a nice cooling granita after spending a few hours in the saddle.

Looking for a base to explore Sicily by bike then look no further than Neilson X Mangia's Torre del Barone. You can bring your own bike or use one of ours.

Eat your way through the street markets in Palermo

Sicilian food is a smorgasbord of Greek, Arab, Spanish and Italian influences. And no trip to the island would be complete without exploring some of its famous street markets.  

If you head to Palermo, you have the choice of three street markets -  all vying for the title of the culinary heart of Sicily. There’s the Ballaro, the oldest and largest. It winds through the Albergheria district where pyramids of artichokes and blood oranges sit alongside fresh fish and vendors bellowing their prices. Then there’s the Il Capo tucked away between Palermo’s cathedral and Teatro Massimo. It’s the place you go if you’ve got a serious sweet tooth with cannoli, cassate and sfince di San Giuseppe sold alongside the fish and spices. Finally, you have La Vucciria which comes alive at night filling the air with the smell of grilled meats and delicious local wines.

May is also the perfect time to visit the markets as the produce is at its best with fresh artichokes, strawberries, fava beans and blood oranges all within season.  

Want some recommendations on what to eat in Sicily? Check out our guide to the must-try Sicilian dishes.

Stand beneath the Unfinished Temple at Segesta

If the Valley of the Temples is Sicily's headline act, Segesta is the warmup that steals the show. It’s a striking 5th century BC Doric temple, that was never finished (it’s sort of in the name) sitting on a pristine, windswept landscape on the slopes of Mount Barbaro. Where the Valley of the Temples is one of the most visited historical attractions in Sicily, the Unfinished Temple is more of a hidden gem. Quieter. More intimate. No less monumental.  

The lower site of the temple allows you to walk right up to the base of it and look through the roofless columns directly into the open blue skies. The upper site is a spectacular 3rd-century BC theatre that’s carved into a rocky hillside.  

Both are spectacular and both don’t have too many crowds, so are a perfect alternative to the Valley of the Temples if you still want something cultural to do.

One thing to note though, is that the upper site is either reached by a scenic uphill hike – so you can get a side of cardio with your culture -  or a gentle bus ride.

Climb La Rocca above Cefalù

If you fancy a hike, but don’t want to clamber up Mount Etna, then La Rocca is the perfect alternative. Towering over the beautiful fishing town of Cefalu, it’s an ancient viewpoint that sits above the old town.  

If you want to make a bit of a day of it, you can visit the Norman cathedral, enjoying all of the mosaics that cover the inside before you make your way up the 270 steps to the viewpoint. The steps lead past the ruins of an ancient temple before reaching views of the town and harbour.  

Go first thing in the morning when the light's better, the steps are shaded, and you'll have the summit largely to yourself.

Taste Aztec-style chocolate in Modica

Modica is Sicily's chocolate town. But they’re not making any old chocolate, they’re making Aztec style chocolate. It’s made using a cold-worked method with roots in the Aztec, so the sugar never fully dissolves and gives the bar a distinctive grainy crunch. Rather than the smooth, milk chocolate feel that you’re used to.  

Beyond the chocolate, Modica is split across two levels, Modica Alta and Modica Bassa, connected by steep lanes and the famous 250-step climb to the Duomo di San Giorgio, one of the finest baroque churches in Sicily. It's a UNESCO-listed town, so evening if you don’t have the sweetest of sweet tooth, there’s still plenty to see and do.

Walk the coastal trails of the Zingaro Nature Reserve

The Zingaro Nature Reserve is seven kilometres of untouched coastline between San Vito lo Capo and Scopello. There are no cars, no houses, just cliffs, coves and views of turquoise blue water.

The main coastal path runs the full length between the two entrances, with several small pebble coves along the way where you can stop and take a dip. It's a moderate trail rather than a technical one, and is perfect for families who are looking to stretch their legs and explore. The thing to keep in mind is that there’s not a lot of shade, and even though that’s less of an issue in May than in the middle of summer, you may still want to set off early and pack plenty of water.  

Become the next Jannik Sinner

It wouldn’t be a holiday without spending the day on a tennis court, slogging it out in the sun, trying to see who can emerge with bragging rights this year.

Yep, it’s not as fancy as some of the other things to do on this list and the pictures don’t look as good on the gram, but sometimes the most fun things to do are simple and joyous. And there’s nothing more joyous than snatching a tie-break win in the final set against one of your kids.

There’s tennis courts scattered around Sicily, but if you want your pick of racket sports then look no further than Neilson X Mangia’s Torre del Barone where you’ve got your pick of tennis, padel and pickleball, all included in the price.

Let the kids loose on a kids club they’ll actually enjoy

Sometimes your kids don’t want to be dragged around ancient temples, fishing villages or world heritage sites. Sometimes they just want to be cut loose and allowed to run around with a bunch of kids their own age.

And that’s where a kids club comes in.  

They can run around like madmen doing all the sports, and all the activities in a safe environment. While you can lie back and enjoy all that Sicily has to offer in your own range.  

If that’s sounds like the ideal holiday, we run a dedicated family activity programme at Neilson X Mangia's Torre del Barone that allows the little ones to have their play time while mum and dad can enjoy all the activities in resort. From SUP and sailing to padel and mountain biking, you can finally finish that lesson without a small voice asking "are we done yet?" — and everyone comes back together in time for dinner with their own stories to tell. 

Yep, there’s so many things to do. But before you pack your bags and head off there’s a few things that you should know:

• What to pack: summer clothes plus a light jacket and jeans for evenings (13–15°C), proper walking shoes for the ruins and Etna, water shoes for the Alcantara Gorges, and high-SPF sun cream.
• May 1st: International Workers' Day is a national holiday in Italy. Many businesses and attractions close, so plan a beach or pool day if you're travelling around then.
• Book festival weekends early: accommodation around Noto fills up fast for the Infiorata, and in some years the Giro d'Italia passes through and books out whole towns.
• Getting around: Sicily is bigger than it looks, so group sights by region. Palermo and Agrigento are to the west, Etna, Taormina and Syracuse to the east. Don’t waster your days criss-crossing the island.
• Half-term timing: late May half term catches the island at its warmest point of the month, with the sea at its most swimmable. Yep the prices are slightly higher but it’s arguably the best week of May to travel with a family. 

Snow-capped volcanoes, flower-carpeted streets, ancient temples you can touch, and pristine seas. May doesn't just show you a quieter side of Sicily, it shows its best side. Add in market mornings in Palermo, an afternoon in Taormina, water sports and racket sports back at the Beach Club, and a food scene hitting its spring stride, and it's easy to see why we rate it as one of the best times of year to visit.

If you fancy making it your base, take a look at Neilson X Mangia’s Torre del Barone, our new resort on Sicily's south-west coast near Sciacca.

Looking for more content on Sicily? Check out our guide to spending a day in Palermo, our complete guide to cycling in Sicily, and the must try dishes in Sicily.